WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.800 Amen. Well, thank you so much, Lawrence, for reading to us. Folks, maybe you want to have Matthew 11 open in front of you as we think about this topic tonight of the gospel, the heart of our faith. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:16.679 And as we think about our Buddhist friends and how they understand and think about the world. 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:20.160 And I've loved studying this and I really hope this is helpful to us. 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:26.400 But why don't we just pause again just as we come, I guess, to God's word and let's pray together. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.880 Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:40.880 And I will give you rest. 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:51.439 Heavenly Father, we just thank you so much for loving us and giving us your son. 00:00:52.980 --> 00:00:57.219 Thank you that we have got your word in our own tongue. 00:00:57.219 --> 00:01:04.060 We can read this and we can read about the promise that he makes us of rest. 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:07.299 And so it's to him we look tonight. 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:13.579 The risen, the ascended, the glorified, the one day to return, glorious Christ. 00:01:14.539 --> 00:01:20.000 And we pray tonight, Father, that what we know not, you would teach us. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:23.200 What we have not, you would give us. 00:01:24.219 --> 00:01:26.019 Father, what we are not, you would make us. 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:28.040 All for his glory. 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:30.439 And to his wonderful name we pray these things. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:31.680 Amen. 00:01:34.040 --> 00:01:37.680 Folks, kind of warm spring, May evening. 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:40.640 Conscious you might be there feeling a little bit sleepy. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:42.460 Maybe at home as well you're doing that. 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:45.099 So you up for a few little jokes as we begin? 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:46.780 Just to lighten the mood a little bit. 00:01:46.859 --> 00:01:47.340 You up for that? 00:01:48.140 --> 00:01:48.420 Yeah. 00:01:48.880 --> 00:01:50.000 Okay, here we go. 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:51.480 A few little jokes as we begin. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:58.719 What's the only thing on the menu for pudding when you dine at the Karma restaurant? 00:02:01.520 --> 00:02:02.640 You're just desserts. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:05.060 Okay, you can have that one for free. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:07.060 Another one you say, okay, let's go for it. 00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:12.120 Who is the most chilled out bear who lives in Jellystone Park? 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:14.740 Yoga bear. 00:02:15.920 --> 00:02:16.120 Okay. 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:18.099 Another one you say, no I won't. 00:02:18.200 --> 00:02:18.719 I'll stop there. 00:02:18.980 --> 00:02:19.140 Okay. 00:02:19.620 --> 00:02:21.560 Terrible even for my standards, those ones. 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:24.480 Here's the reason I'm telling you them. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:26.379 For your encouragement. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:27.620 Okay. 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:32.599 If you got either of those jokes, and even if you didn't, I hope by the end of tonight you will, 00:02:33.340 --> 00:02:36.099 know that you know something about Buddhism. 00:02:36.780 --> 00:02:37.000 Okay. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:39.460 Which is our theme, I guess, our subject for tonight. 00:02:39.460 --> 00:02:42.879 And I hope that encourages you as you maybe come to something, you think, I don't have a 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:45.659 scooby-doo what's going on here, what this is about. 00:02:45.760 --> 00:02:49.900 Well, be encouraged that I think that you know a little bit more than I think you think you know. 00:02:50.580 --> 00:02:53.480 So let me kind of just give you the roadmap for this evening. 00:02:53.600 --> 00:02:53.719 Okay. 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:56.979 Here's my realistic, I hope, two-fold aim. 00:02:57.939 --> 00:03:01.479 Firstly, I want to kind of give us the 101 on Buddhism, right? 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:05.620 So we can kind of understand a few things about our friends in the way that they think. 00:03:05.699 --> 00:03:07.099 So what do Buddhists believe? 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:08.739 How do Buddhists live? 00:03:09.259 --> 00:03:13.280 Where do we maybe see the traces of Buddhism in our culture today? 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:13.919 Okay. 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:15.639 Realistic aim, I hope, number one. 00:03:16.139 --> 00:03:22.240 Aim number two is to help us understand and maybe think about some of the ways that we can 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:24.959 engage with our Buddhist friends. 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:28.659 Ways that we can maybe connect with them and share with them the gospel. 00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:34.199 And as well, off the back of that, help us critique a Buddhist worldview. 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:38.819 As we do what a kind of good surgeon does, as they do the x-ray, and as they hold one 00:03:38.819 --> 00:03:40.479 x-ray up and they hold another one up. 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:42.619 That's what I hope we're going to be able to do tonight. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:47.000 As we hold up a Buddhist worldview and as we hold up a Christian worldview. 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:52.039 And I hope we leave tonight understanding a bit more, maybe about the connections, but 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:58.219 also the differences, and leave here tonight with a greater confidence in God's word and 00:03:58.219 --> 00:04:01.399 a Christian way of understanding the world. 00:04:02.099 --> 00:04:02.319 Okay. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:03.219 Here's the thing. 00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:06.379 When it comes to Christian apologetics. 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:07.099 Right. 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:11.619 To steal a line from Andy Bannister, who we had last week helping us think about Islam. 00:04:12.399 --> 00:04:17.459 What we have to remember about apologetics is it's not just about answering people's questions. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:22.839 It's also about questioning people's answers. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:24.000 Okay. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:28.779 Trying to understand how people think. 00:04:28.779 --> 00:04:32.779 And once we're on the subject, I guess, of apologetics. 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:36.419 Let me just outline the kind of golden rule for us when we do these things. 00:04:37.299 --> 00:04:43.059 And it's we must always strive, no matter what the subject, to represent the other side 00:04:43.059 --> 00:04:48.539 in the most gracious and loving and accurate way as we possibly can. 00:04:48.679 --> 00:04:48.819 Right. 00:04:48.819 --> 00:04:50.920 That's the kind of golden rule of Christian apologetics. 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:56.300 I think it's just, it's a way of loving people well, loving our neighbor well, to try and 00:04:56.300 --> 00:04:58.599 represent them to the best of our abilities. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:03.259 And so let me just say in this whole area of Buddhism, I'm very aware that I'm still a 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:03.740 novice. 00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:09.500 And so if you hear me say something tonight that you feel could be improved in any way, 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:13.340 friends, I'd love you to come and tell me because we want to do this well. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:15.500 We want to represent people well. 00:05:16.220 --> 00:05:18.120 So let's dive in tonight then. 00:05:18.420 --> 00:05:25.420 Here is, as we begin, what you will find on the West London Buddhist Center. 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:26.139 Okay. 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:28.259 I know you're all on that website often, I'm sure. 00:05:28.519 --> 00:05:29.579 But this is what you find. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:34.719 If you go on the website and you go to the about us slash frequently asked questions 00:05:34.719 --> 00:05:35.639 section. 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:36.279 Here it is. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:37.659 Question. 00:05:38.859 --> 00:05:41.459 Is Buddhism a religion? 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:43.319 Answer. 00:05:44.419 --> 00:05:50.060 Well, yes, it traditionally involves faith and devotion, ritual, myth, monks and nuns. 00:05:50.159 --> 00:05:50.319 Okay. 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:52.039 Because we all know religion involves those things. 00:05:53.479 --> 00:05:54.399 But here's what it says. 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:54.680 Okay. 00:05:55.539 --> 00:05:58.019 But, and this is important, it is non-theistic. 00:05:58.019 --> 00:06:02.839 There is no God or source of absolute authority. 00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:10.939 This makes Buddhism unique amongst universal religions and allows it to be other things as well. 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:15.939 Really important to take that and maybe carry it with us through the rest of this evening. 00:06:16.060 --> 00:06:17.120 Hold those thoughts in your mind. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:22.699 So here is a religion of roughly 535 million people, according to the internet. 00:06:22.699 --> 00:06:23.300 Okay. 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:28.379 The majority of which live on the east side of the world, I guess that we would know. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:32.620 Countries, for example, like China, Tibet, Thailand, Korea. 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:40.500 A religion founded by a man by the name of Siddhartha Gautama, the original Buddha, sometime between 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:42.240 560-500 BC. 00:06:42.419 --> 00:06:43.419 Call it something like that. 00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:50.060 Now, from what I can see, I think there's very good evidence to suggest that he was a real person. 00:06:50.960 --> 00:06:51.120 Okay. 00:06:51.280 --> 00:06:52.120 Real person. 00:06:52.660 --> 00:07:00.139 But what's interesting is what many Buddhists hold to today is kind of the compiled teachings of Buddha 00:07:00.139 --> 00:07:07.240 coupled with a collection of myths and stories about him which may or not be true and seem to have evolved 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:10.800 and developed culturally over time. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:11.960 Okay. 00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:14.879 Now, I listened to a podcast recently called Unbelievable. 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:16.840 I don't know if some of you listened to that. 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:19.639 It's a really interesting podcast, Justin Brarley. 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:25.040 And what he does is he gets guests on with different worldviews and they just have a conversation around the table. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:27.460 It's really fascinating every time I go on a run and try and listen to it. 00:07:27.780 --> 00:07:28.620 Really interesting. 00:07:29.860 --> 00:07:34.360 This particular episode that I listened to, you can probably guess, they had a Christian and a Buddhist 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:36.340 talking about how they understand the world. 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:39.199 And that exact question was put to the Buddhist. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:44.860 Does the kind of mystical aspect of Buddhism bother you, the host asked? 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:49.899 To which the Buddhists responded, not really. 00:07:51.240 --> 00:08:00.139 Let me ask you tonight, would it bother you as a Christian if you found out that the feeding of the 5,000 may or may not have happened, 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:01.639 as you read about it in the Gospels? 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:02.639 Would it bother you as a Christian? 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:05.719 That Mary may or may not have been a virgin? 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:08.639 That Jesus in particular may or may not have come back to life? 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:14.899 And there may or may not have been a guy called Paul who traveled around the Eastern Med in the first century telling people about Jesus? 00:08:15.599 --> 00:08:17.000 Would it matter to you? 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:19.159 Hmm? 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:23.800 Well, let me lovingly suggest that it should. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:25.080 Okay? 00:08:25.200 --> 00:08:27.140 It's really popular today, and I wonder if you've heard this. 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:30.000 People say, I wish I had your faith. 00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:31.060 Okay? 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:31.980 I read Nick Clegg. 00:08:32.060 --> 00:08:33.019 I don't know if some of you read this. 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:34.800 Nick Clegg, former leader of the Lib Dems. 00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:38.560 He commented in a recent interview that he did with Premier Christian News. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:40.959 And he said, and I quote, 00:08:41.079 --> 00:08:44.839 Having faith must be the most wonderful thing. 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:47.639 Now, I don't know about you, but I hear that. 00:08:49.059 --> 00:08:53.419 And I think to myself, listen, if you believe that Christianity is not true, 00:08:53.819 --> 00:08:56.699 then honestly, the last thing that you should do is envy me. 00:08:57.179 --> 00:08:58.899 The last thing that you should do is envy me. 00:08:59.699 --> 00:09:03.399 You should, firstly, feel deeply sorry for me. 00:09:04.199 --> 00:09:06.779 Really, if you don't believe this is true, don't envy me. 00:09:06.839 --> 00:09:07.719 Feel sorry for me. 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:08.800 And again, that's not my opinion. 00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:12.740 That's exactly what the Apostle Paul says to the Christians in Corinth. 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:17.879 He says, and if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, and so is your faith. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.500 Here's one of the key differences I found in my research. 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:28.779 Unlike Buddhism, Christianity stands or falls on the reliability of the Bible. 00:09:30.660 --> 00:09:36.220 Insofar as it accurately records for us the way that God has worked throughout history, 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:41.160 and perhaps in particular as it records for us the person and the work of Jesus Christ. 00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:48.240 In other words, our faith, the Christian faith rests on facts, not myths. 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:53.200 So we can lean into the reliability of the Bible. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:55.480 It is a firm foundation. 00:09:57.259 --> 00:10:01.820 And so with that, let me try and give you the kind of 101 of Buddhist thought and practice. 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:07.539 Now, you'll appreciate that different Buddhists in different parts of the world believe slightly different things. 00:10:07.539 --> 00:10:15.099 Okay, you've kind of got Zen Buddhists, Thervara Buddhists, Mahayana Buddhists, and there's no way we've got time to do all the different distinctives. 00:10:15.179 --> 00:10:16.579 Let me try and give us the spine. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.819 The spine of it. 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:24.060 Okay, so what's central, I guess, to Buddhist thought and practice. 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:30.580 And then what we're going to do is we're going to piece it together and hold it up against a Christian understanding of the world. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:33.040 Remember, like I said, the surgeon holding up the x-rays. 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:37.100 And we're going to do a little bit of a compare and a contrast exercise. 00:10:37.260 --> 00:10:37.780 That sound good? 00:10:38.540 --> 00:10:38.760 Yeah? 00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:42.500 So the teachings of the Buddha, which are recorded. 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:45.679 Buddha, by the way, is just a word that means enlightened one. 00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:47.500 They're collected together in the Dharma. 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:53.740 And the key numbers, if you want to get to the heart of Buddhist understanding and thought, two numbers you need to remember. 00:10:54.439 --> 00:10:55.319 Four and eight. 00:10:56.539 --> 00:10:57.259 Four and eight. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.200 Two numbers to remember. 00:10:58.919 --> 00:11:00.519 The four noble truths. 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:07.679 Okay, so which is what Buddha taught as he sought to make sense of the world. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.919 And all of this stuff, log it for later. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:14.319 This is really interesting when we compare it against how Christians understand the world. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:21.239 So there's a story told about Buddha, about how one day he saw a woman grieving from the loss of her son. 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:27.899 Okay, and he promised to bring him back to life if she could find some mustard seeds. 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:29.959 Easy enough, thought the woman. 00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:34.500 However, said the Buddha, you must find them from a family who has never known misery like yours. 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:36.199 So you can imagine this scene. 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:39.440 Okay, she goes around and she starts knocking on the door of every neighbor. 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:45.180 And the woman eventually returns having learned a lesson about the unavoidability of death and suffering. 00:11:46.020 --> 00:11:50.940 So the four noble truths revolve around this idea of suffering. 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:55.640 Truth number one of the four noble truths is the reality of suffering. 00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:58.840 Okay, it's common to all of us. 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:02.600 So what then is the source of our suffering? 00:12:02.820 --> 00:12:05.060 That is truth number two. 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:07.500 We are the cause of the suffering. 00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:14.660 And in particular because of what I think Buddhism is calling us our ego, our desires, our desires for ourself. 00:12:15.540 --> 00:12:16.980 It's our desires are wrong. 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:21.740 Okay, because we attach ourselves to that which is temporary. 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:26.940 Because important in Buddhist belief, remember, nothing is eternal. 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:27.759 It really matters. 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:28.840 Nothing is eternal. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:36.419 Which is why any kind of possibility of an eternal God is an absolute non-starter. 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:43.039 Okay, so if that's the cause of our suffering, what is the solution? 00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:44.199 That's truth number three. 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:46.679 And it's quite logical, really, if you follow it through. 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:50.679 To end suffering, you just stop doing what causes suffering. 00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:55.659 And central, and this is really important for us to see, central to this is this idea of detachment. 00:12:56.319 --> 00:12:57.179 Okay, really crucial word. 00:12:57.559 --> 00:12:57.959 Detachment. 00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:58.400 Detachment. 00:12:59.540 --> 00:13:05.240 We separate yourselves from those things which are temporary and cause you pain. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:06.560 And what happens when you do that? 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:07.300 That's truth four. 00:13:07.560 --> 00:13:10.759 The more detached you become, the more enlightened you become. 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:12.920 And so on this journey, that's number four. 00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:13.759 Here's number eight. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:18.019 The eightfold ethical path, which is how you should live your life. 00:13:19.400 --> 00:13:20.280 Right, just rattle through these. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:21.019 View rightly. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:24.180 Okay, think about life through the eyes of the Buddha. 00:13:24.180 --> 00:13:27.220 Think about it with wisdom and compassion. 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:29.120 Think rightly. 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:34.500 Right, clear and kind thoughts build good and strong characters. 00:13:34.800 --> 00:13:35.720 Speak rightly. 00:13:35.920 --> 00:13:37.720 Kind and helpful words. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:39.940 Conduct yourself rightly. 00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:42.940 Okay, others will know you from the way that you behave. 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:44.620 Choose a right job. 00:13:45.160 --> 00:13:46.660 Okay, one that's not going to hurt others. 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:50.780 The Buddha said apparently, do not earn your living by harming others. 00:13:50.780 --> 00:13:54.080 Do not seek happiness by making others unhappy. 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:55.940 Strive rightly. 00:13:55.940 --> 00:13:58.080 Okay, do your best at all times. 00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:00.600 Always maintain the goodwill towards others. 00:14:00.700 --> 00:14:01.660 Have a right mind. 00:14:01.800 --> 00:14:09.040 Always be conscious of what you're doing, which is why intoxication is out in Buddhism and it's ill-advised. 00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:11.140 And finally, concentrate rightly. 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:13.420 Concentrate rightly. 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:19.419 Because if you do that, you will be able to find quiet and attain true peace of mind. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:22.579 And you'll appreciate at this point, this is where things like yoga come in. 00:14:24.439 --> 00:14:28.519 Certainly central to the spiritual side of yoga is this idea of detachment. 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:34.539 Okay, and the clearing of your mind and leading to that sense, I guess, of inner peace. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:36.740 And it's really interesting to read about in this. 00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:40.159 Western people are commenting on this. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:47.699 And they're suggesting that the reason that yoga has made such inroads into our culture is because in our stress-mad world, 00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:54.819 people are seeing this as a form of stress relief and inner harmony and kind of physical recuperation as well. 00:14:55.939 --> 00:15:01.219 Which is, I guess, as a side is maybe why we must always think really carefully as Christians 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:06.420 and ask good questions as we engage with people who are really into this stuff. 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.480 That's yoga. 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:13.620 Now, listen, we've raced through that four and the eight. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:20.860 But I hope it just gives you maybe just a little bit of a flavor of how Buddhists think. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:24.920 Four noble truths, the eightfold path. 00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:28.899 Now, we're going to move on to the X-ray part here. 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:36.899 With that framework in place, let's just do a compare and contrast exercise. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.899 Maybe we'll slow down a little bit at this point. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:43.840 And I just want to give you, and I seem to quote this guy in every sermon, and I don't mean to. 00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:45.259 He just kind of comes up, right? 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:49.439 Here's what Christian thinker C.S. Lewis once said. 00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:51.059 He said, 00:15:51.059 --> 00:16:04.839 Wonderful quote that. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:14.059 So what he's talking about is the fact that we all have a way of understanding the world and processing and viewing reality. 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:22.559 And Christianity, according to Lewis and his story, is a fascinating one, provides the best way of making sense of the world. 00:16:22.619 --> 00:16:26.739 Because as it shines, it illuminates everything else so that you can see clearly. 00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:28.819 See clearly. 00:16:29.339 --> 00:16:30.299 I think he's banging on the money. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:32.279 I think that's a fascinating observation. 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:41.959 So let me just give you then, in the time that we have, two key differences between a Buddhist and a Christian worldview. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.500 And then we're done. 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:44.000 Okay? 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:48.279 Two key differences between a Christian and a Buddhist worldview. 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:54.779 Here's number one, that we have different understandings as to humanity's problem. 00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:55.779 Right? 00:16:56.539 --> 00:17:01.819 For the Buddhists, suffering is a reality and death is a certainty. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:08.279 Which is why, just interestingly, you will always, as you see Buddhist festivals, you will always see flowers. 00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:13.839 Because the flowers represent the fleeting but the beautiful nature of life. 00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:20.480 And we have to say at this point, and it's always good in apologetics to look for places of connection. 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:25.660 It's interesting as you read around Christian missionaries who are interacting with Buddhists. 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:28.779 Always say that Ecclesiastes is a really good place to go. 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:29.700 Okay? 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.640 We did that recently. 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:32.480 If you remember last year, we looked at the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:36.000 It's one of the big points in the book, isn't it? 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.880 Life is beautiful, but life is. 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.799 Remember Hevel? 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.480 Life is breath. 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:43.059 It's impermanent, so much of it. 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.860 And death is a reality. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:48.799 I was reading about a guy this week on Twitter, a Christian pastor down south. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:52.960 He was asking questions about the best resources for Ecclesiastes. 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:59.180 And he said to himself, and I'm also thinking about hiring a coffin for us as we preach through the series to put it at the front of the church. 00:17:59.319 --> 00:17:59.440 Right? 00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:01.259 I had a little laugh to myself. 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:03.339 But he said, that will make the point. 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.379 Death is a reality. 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:10.180 But here's where perhaps, if that's a place maybe of connection, 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:16.559 here is perhaps where we would disagree with our Buddhist friends reverently, lovingly. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:22.240 For the Buddhist, death is a natural part of the life circle. 00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:23.480 Okay? 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:29.480 We don't have time to get into it tonight, but it simply leads to rebirth in the wheel of incarnation. 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.799 Don't have time to do it tonight. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.619 But Google it. 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.359 Don't Google it. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.799 Get into it in your own time if you want to understand about reincarnation. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:39.759 It's a natural thing, say the Buddhists. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:42.539 Whereas Christianity would say, and I think this is really important, 00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:50.220 would say that death, while absolutely a reality, is very much unnatural. 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:54.819 I'm always amazed when I interact with my friends on this. 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:58.259 They're actually amazed that Christianity has that view. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:00.980 Death is not just the way it is. 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:04.619 Well, actually, when you go behind the scenes, back to the beginning of the Bible story, 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:07.019 death was never part of God's original plan. 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.179 And they're amazed by that. 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.039 Is that right? 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.079 It is right. 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:16.960 That there is an eternal, triune God who created the world 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:19.960 and who made the very first human beings in his image. 00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:23.600 It's why we've all got inherent worth and dignity. 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:29.140 Eternal beings created to live in a relationship with him. 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:34.840 But because of mankind's rebellion against our creator, sin has entered the world. 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:37.460 And it's bigger than just you and I. 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:39.279 It's not just us who are affected. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:42.680 All creation is affected. 00:19:42.840 --> 00:19:44.360 All creation is groaning. 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:48.279 We thought about this this morning, groaning, longing to be set free. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:54.279 So thinking about with Chloe this week, we were talking about just our favorite things. 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:57.179 We were looking at Genesis 1, Genesis 2 in our family Bible times, 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:59.899 talking about our favorite things that God has made in creation. 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.479 Just listing them. 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:05.419 Mountains, waterfalls, the birds, the trees. 00:20:06.899 --> 00:20:08.019 How beautiful is creation. 00:20:08.179 --> 00:20:09.959 And yet, friends, if this is creation groaning, 00:20:10.919 --> 00:20:13.919 how wonderful will it be when Christ comes to bring it in? 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:18.699 Renewed, restored by its creator, 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:21.699 like we started with in Colossians 1. 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:25.019 Sin has entered the world. 00:20:25.159 --> 00:20:26.139 Sin leads to death. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:32.819 So death is unnatural in the sense that it is not the way it's supposed to be. 00:20:32.959 --> 00:20:34.859 It's not the way God designed it. 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:37.459 The Bible talks about it as the last enemy. 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:41.299 Death is not the way it's supposed to be. 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.380 Unnatural. 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:48.880 And coupled with that, the Buddhist belief that the human problem is an internal one. 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.319 Right? 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:52.519 It chiefly concerns our wrong desires. 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:56.059 And I think this is where the concept of karma comes in. 00:20:57.339 --> 00:21:01.460 Now, karma and Buddhism is a lot more to it than my silly joke at the start. 00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:07.740 Essentially, it's the law of cause and effect when it comes to pain and suffering. 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:12.759 And particularly the focus is on, seems to be on one's motivations behind your actions. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:15.700 Bad motivations lead to bad actions. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:17.920 Good motivations lead to good actions. 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:22.019 And the ultimate goal, you can probably guess, is to choose the good over the bad. 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:24.019 Choose the good karma over the bad karma. 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:31.019 Again, you have to say, although we have got all sorts of objections to the idea of karma, 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:37.420 because yes, actions have consequences, but no, friends, that the Bible never explains 00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:42.220 the suffering in this world as a straight line between cause and effect. 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:51.079 The very fact that Buddhism identifies an internal problem, again, we somewhat agree, don't we? 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:53.819 We think of what Jesus said in Mark chapter 7. 00:21:54.759 --> 00:22:00.599 It's not what goes in, but what comes out of the heart that makes a person unclean. 00:22:00.699 --> 00:22:02.740 Jesus is talking about an internal problem. 00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:04.240 What does he say? 00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:08.220 For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that come evil thoughts. 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:10.779 The problem is an internal one. 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:14.740 However, desires themselves are not the problem. 00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:18.799 They're part, I think, of what it means to be made in God's image. 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:19.779 Right? 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:24.259 You read the Bible, it's full of desires, it's full of affections, it's full of emotions. 00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:24.720 Right? 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.680 Sing to the Lord a new song. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.660 That's a desire. 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:32.160 Come into his courts with thanksgiving and praise. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.019 That's a desire. 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:35.740 Worship him in the splendor of his holiness. 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.200 That is a desire. 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:41.440 The problem is that our desires are twisted. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.880 Right? 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:48.519 It was Martin Luther who said, the problem is that our hearts are, and how's your Latin? 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.920 Incurvatus in se. 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.320 Right? 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.039 Curved in on themselves. 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.019 That's what he said. 00:22:55.860 --> 00:22:57.940 We long for the wrong things. 00:22:57.940 --> 00:23:02.180 But the answer is not to cut off our desires. 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:08.820 The answer is to be found in the God, the Christ who transforms our desires. 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.819 Okay? 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:13.399 Now, we could go on for ages in this, but we need to move on. 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:16.819 We have different understandings of humanity's problem. 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:21.919 And we have different understandings, I'm sure you can guess it, of humanity's solution. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.920 Okay? 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:30.220 For the Buddhist, the answer, as far as I can tell, is summed up in this idea of detachment. 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:31.680 Okay? 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:34.440 Even stretching to incorporate love itself. 00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:39.039 Buddha was reported, and again, I want to stress that reported, to have said, 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:41.700 he who loves 50 people has 50 woes. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.519 He who loves no one has no woes. 00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:46.620 Okay? 00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:51.479 So remove your attachment from the things in life that are temporary, 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:55.219 and it will at some point be the source of your suffering and pain. 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:56.979 Detach. 00:23:58.039 --> 00:24:04.279 Whereas the Christian would say the answer to our problem is not don't love and don't attach. 00:24:05.459 --> 00:24:11.819 The answer, rather, is found in the God in Christ who both loved and attached. 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:13.659 Right? 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:21.300 In Christ, God who became man, who, if you like, Christ who attached himself to our humanity. 00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:22.460 Right? 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:25.140 He attached himself to our problems. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:29.100 He attached himself to our sin. 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:34.259 You might know, friends, that the Buddha is often pictured as sitting. 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:37.340 You think about the famous picture of Buddhism, 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:42.160 the picture of the Buddha sitting under the Bodhi tree, known as the Tree of Enlightenment. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:44.140 You've got that image in your head, sitting under the tree. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:48.400 You know, there's a tree as well, the heart of Christianity, isn't there? 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:51.440 But Jesus is not under the tree. 00:24:51.560 --> 00:24:57.240 He's on the tree, taking the curse that we deserve on himself. 00:24:58.500 --> 00:25:02.360 As he dies on the cross, taking the suffering that we deserve on himself. 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:12.639 And incredibly, the Bible story is testament to the truth that our God is good enough that he can redeem suffering. 00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:14.379 Isn't it? 00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:17.359 He can use even the seemingly bad for his good purposes. 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:21.479 It's just one of the threads that goes all the way through the Bible story. 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:23.000 I think the cross is the ultimate. 00:25:23.179 --> 00:25:25.059 It's the zenith example of that, isn't it? 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:34.379 And most importantly, the Bible says that is the place of ultimate peace. 00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:36.000 Right? 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:41.779 Again, you just listen to Christian missionaries again, interacting with their Buddhist friends. 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:45.740 They'll tell you that people have a street-level understanding of Buddhism. 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:48.759 What they really want is peace and rest. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.859 Peace and rest. 00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:54.319 And that is what Jesus is offering. 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:56.039 We read it in Matthew 11 earlier. 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:59.939 Peace with God through his blood on the cross. 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:02.199 Peace with others through his blood on the cross. 00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:02.939 Peace within. 00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:07.039 Think about this morning, having our sins wiped out through the blood of the Lamb. 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:14.240 You see, unlike Buddhism, Christianity says true peace is found not in emptying your mind, 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:20.599 but in filling it with the true knowledge of who Jesus Christ is and trusting him. 00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:24.599 The one who said, and I think this is my favorite promise in Scripture. 00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.500 Don't know about you. 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:32.660 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:34.660 Right? 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:41.240 The rest that mankind was created to know that can only be found in relationship with our loving and joyful creator. 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:43.799 That's where I want us to finish tonight. 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:48.859 Holding out this promise that Jesus makes, I will give you rest. 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.680 And who is he? 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.440 And I love this. 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:53.420 He is the one who is not stern and cold. 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:57.759 He is the one who is gentle and humble in heart, 00:26:58.120 --> 00:27:04.299 and who offers us through the cross in him rest for our souls. 00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:07.259 And I love it, and we'll finish with this. 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:11.259 One of the most celebrated truths of the gospel is this idea of peace. 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:19.900 And it's also one of the features central to one of the most sung Christian hymns of all time, 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:24.460 penned by Horatio Spafford. 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:26.220 Let me just finish with this. 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:48.819 Friends, this is what Christ offers us tonight. 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:55.099 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:57.019 Let's pray. 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:05.419 Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this glorious promise that Christ, your Son, makes us. 00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:07.259 Of rest. 00:28:08.399 --> 00:28:10.259 Of knowing you. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:14.700 Of knowing your fatherly love and your care for us. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:17.839 And Lord, I pray that you would help us, Lord, to know that more. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:21.919 Whatever is going on in our lives as we sit here tonight, as we watch this tonight, 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:27.619 whatever is going on in our lives, may we know the rest that Christ offers us. 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:33.679 So, Father, we pray tonight as we think about interacting with our Buddhist friends. 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:36.980 Lord, help us to love people as Christ loved them. 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:41.459 Thank you that he is the one who is gentle and humble in heart. 00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:48.640 So, Father, be with us this week as we continue our lives, as we live them for your glory. 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:53.259 Lord, be with us now as we turn to remember Christ's death, 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:57.700 what he did on the cross for us, and his resurrection, as we remember communion together. 00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:59.620 Be with us now, Heavenly Father. 00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:01.400 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:29:02.100 --> 00:29:02.440 Amen. 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:02.600 Amen. 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:24.019 Amen. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.299 Amen. 00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:24.360 Amen. 00:29:24.380 --> 00:29:24.480 Amen. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.559 Amen. 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.240 Amen. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.820 Amen. 00:29:26.840 --> 00:29:27.259 Amen. 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.759 Amen. 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.840 Amen. 00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:28.900 Amen. 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.259 Amen. 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:29.380 Amen. 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:29.620 Amen.